Rijndri Load of rubbish!!

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Marva-nova Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

wickey People outside former Czechoslovakia will probably not fully understand the depth of the story. But if you have possibility to watch it somewhere, do not hesitate and do it. It is worth it definitely.There are very few movies in the world that combine comedy full of jokes with precise points and deep, human drama in them without making it unwatchable. This movie has the best parts of both genres - comedy and drama.The scene in which J.Kodet plays Czechoslovak national anthem on piano is full of pain and tells more about feelings of disappointment and betrayal than 1000 words.. It reminds me very the ending scene from The Deer Hunter (where they started to sing US anthem) - not due to same expression, but the thought behind it. It almost made me cry.Thank you Mr. Hrebejk for this masterpiece!

lk1918 Now THAT is a Czech film. While Kolja, a 1996 Czech film was specifically edited by the British co-producers to strip it of some very Czech elements which were culturally hard to understand for foreign audiences, this one is the real thing. Figures that while Kolja was showered with foreign prizes incl. the Oscar, this one got nothing significant abroad as far as I am aware. No matter, this is a seriously funny and sad film which will tell you a lot about the Czech sense of humour. Many passages sadly won't be that accessible without knowing the culture and history well, and inevitably, lots gets lost in translation, but you may still find it satisfying.

Exiled_Archangel As a person who's been in Czech Republic and knows many Czechs, I say this movie reflects a lot from the genuine Czech lifestyle. The framing when switching from one family to another is splendid, and the characters are absolutely brilliant. An average person could say Jindra's father is a little bit exaggerated, but I found my own father in him so I can relate. Czech family structure and its orientation with the iron curtain culture is elegantly touched. Also, the sad fact that some people unfortunately have to leave their homes and move abroad is another major issue of this movie. I believe anyone from a country that has a lot of negative immigration will feel something different watching it. Another success of the director is that, the scenes spend a lot of time with the Christmas time. But it never gets boring. What I'm looking for in a movie is depth, (which is why I don't really fancy most American movies) and it's present in this one. Social issues, relationships, politics, traditions, everything! In addition to all this, Kristyna Novakova has an outstanding performance, and to me she's a starlet with a bright future. Czech this movie out! You won't be disappointed...

Olhado Watching this movie at the Wellington International Film Festival, surrounded by emotional ex-patriot Czechs is an experience I will always remember and treasure.The film details life during the Prague Spring, leading up to the Russian invasion. The humor is very Czech, and splendidly so. The ending reminded me of exactly why the Politician is the lowest form of life on the planet.Go see this movie wherever and whenever you can.